what about this one then?!

harveybobbles

ES at that age was a funny spec - it had lowered suspension, most got sports sreering wheel, seats, gear knob and black headlining.

Probably wont have cruise an will only have manual aircon, though and them wheels are standard fitment for the ES model.

I like red cars.

Cars on budgets are normally navy blue.

sparkychris

harveybobbles wrote: »

ES at that age was a funny spec - it had lowered suspension, most got sports sreering wheel, seats, gear knob and black headlining.

Probably wont have cruise an will only have manual aircon, though and them wheels are standard fitment for the ES model.

I like red cars.

Cars on budgets are normally navy blue.

Yep.... My current car is, indeed, navy blue...

sparkychris

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201505263790793/sort/priceasc/channel/cars/postcode/sy14yg/radius/10/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/price-to/3000/page/3/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew?logcode=p

Far more than I wanted to pay..... But what do we think of this one team?

Go on..... Put me off

BeenThroughItAll

sparkychris wrote: »

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201505263790793/sort/priceasc/channel/cars/postcode/sy14yg/radius/10/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/price-to/3000/page/3/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew?logcode=p

Far more than I wanted to pay..... But what do we think of this one team?

Go on..... Put me off

Ok. It's a 1.6HDi. They're crap.

force_ten

sparkychris wrote: »

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201505263790793/sort/priceasc/channel/cars/postcode/sy14yg/radius/10/usedcars/fuel-type/diesel/price-to/3000/page/3/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew?logcode=p

Far more than I wanted to pay..... But what do we think of this one team?

Go on..... Put me off

it 10 years old and its french, that is all i looked at, I personally wouldn't buy a new french car let alone a ten year old one

CrazyRed

French, and a 1.6HDi.

Ticking timebomb of an engine and the usual French older car electrical "fun" to look forwards to.

Best viewed in the rear-view mirror as you're driving away from it, in my honest opinion......

rev_henry

Why on earth would you want one of those? Cars designed for people who don't like cars.

jbainbridge

Again no pictures of the interior??

motorguy

sparkychris wrote: »

After some sterling advice from the panel of experts, I steered well clear of a few cars I was thinking (naïvely) of buying...

What about this one?!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/2004-BMW-320D-ES-TOURING-RED/351392438531?hlpht=true&ops=true&viphx=1&_trksid=p5197.c100068.m2280&_trkparms=ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140211130857%26meid%3D23a595bdc47d436f94cebce5f5397c1f%26pid%3D100068%26clkid%3D6324830708603961618&_qi=RTM1793643

It has been for sale a few weeks and is being advertised for 2000 elsewhere....

Shiny isn't it

Unless you have a particular fetish, i dont see any reason to pay a premium to buy what is a poverty spec premium brand car. You would be better off with a Mondeo.

Also, do you do enough miles to warrant a diesel? You might be better off with a petrol variant - less problematic and cheaper.

motorguy

forgotmyname wrote: »

That back end looks very low. Lowered cars tend to be a PITA how much will it cost to refit original parts if it turns out to be too low/soft or bodged?

Get someone to check that properly. Will your insurance cover modified vehicles?

Check the insides of the arches and suspension to see if the wheels or tyres
have made contact. The wheels look small for a car that big thats also been
lowered, Maybe it had larger wheels at some point?

Personally i avoid cars with suspension drops.

Its not lowered.

As has been said already, its ES spec so it gets sports suspension, which sits lower than standard. Also rear springs can be problematic so that could be the cause.